Barnard’s Express in Barkerville

Francis Barnard established the F.J. Barnard Express Company in 1861. His first trips to the mines of the Cariboo entailed walking the entire distances carrying letters for $2 and selling newspapers for $1. By 1862, he had purchased a wagon and hired a driver, Stephen Tingley. The next year he obtained the contract for the mail and in 1864, the inaugural run of the first stagecoaches occurred. By this time, Barnard’s Company had a virtual monopoly on moving people and freight throughout the province. The company ceased automobile, freight wagon and stagecoach traffic by 1913 and all business, including steam ships, by 1920. Not only was it the longest stagecoach run in the world, but also the last one running in North America.

The legacy of Barnard’s Express was reignited when Barkerville became an historic site and began welcoming tourists from around the world. There have been many who have taken up the mantle, passing the torch from one operator to the next. Perhaps one of the most memorable and longest running of those names is none other than Glen Escott, known lovingly by his coworkers and friends as James “Happy” Hamilton. He worked as a teamster for several years prior to 2003, and in 2009, returned to Barkerville to continue operating the Barnard’s contract. Sadly, Glen was later diagnosed with cancer, and in April of 2022, after a long run of driving his teams through the streets of Barkerville, he passed on, leaving Barkerville with some big cowboy boots to fill. With heavy hearts, word was put out to drivers and teamsters across BC and Alberta that the Barnard’s contract was available, but there didn’t seem to be much interest. For much of the winter, it appeared as though contracting a new operator would prove impossible. Had the legacy of Barnard’s Express passed on with Glen? Had the days of horses in Barkerville come to a close? These were not easy questions to address, and so the search continued.

Thankfully, where there is a will, there is a way. At the eleventh hour, a deal was struck with another alumni of the Barkerville stagecoach, Tyler Setzer, who operated the contract from 2004 to 2008. An arrangement was made for him, his wife Brianne, and their horses to return for the 2023 season. We are very much looking forward to their arrival and to see the legacy of the stagecoach continue. Tyler and Brianne will begin operations at Barnard’s Express on June 24th.

– Stewart Cawood, Manager, Public Programming and Media